Place of Care, Place of Death

You may prefer to be cared for and die at home. You may want to be cared for at home but to spend your final days in a hospice or hospital. If you find that you are in a hospital or hospice, you may want to go home to die.

Home can have different meanings. For older people, an aged care facility may be their home. They may want to be cared for there, rather than in a hospital. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want to go home 'to country'. Being at home may not be as important for you as being able to be with family or friends.

When you are ill, you may spend time in hospital or hospices. This could be to help control your symptoms or to improve your function. You may then wish to return home.

Sometimes though, people can die unexpectedly and not where they planned.

Your preferences and choices can change over time. There may need to be continuing discussions about what is the best place for care. This will often depend on what care is available in any place.

Being cared for at home requires your family or friends to provide hands-on care and support. Having more than one person who can help makes it easier to stay at home. Your carer also needs to be able to make their wishes known without being judged. This could be regarding where you are cared for or their capacity to care. They may not feel comfortable discussing this in front of you. Without a carer, home care can be difficult.

Sometimes a change in the place of care is unavoidable. If this happens, everyone needs to be aware of your condition and your wishes. They also need to know what your carer wants or needs. Ask questions if things seem to be changing, or if arrangements aren't clear. Don’t be afraid to ask about what is happening.